Enumclaw council opts to wait on removing pickleball lines at Rainier Trails until Garrett Park resurfacing

Councilmembers on the Enumclaw City Council on April 27 agreed to delay removing pickleball striping at Rainier Trails Park until resurfacing and opening of new courts at Garrett Park are complete.

At public comment, Richard Gardine, speaking for neighbors in Stonebrook, said the daily noise from pickleball play that begins in May has been “significant” for adjacent homes and asked the council to remove pickleball lines and restore the court to tennis-only use. Gardine said some homes are as close as about 30 feet from the courts.

Community Services Committee members reported that the parks board recommended removing the lines, but the committee suggested waiting until Garrett Park’s seven new courts are resurfaced so players have an alternative site. “Let’s get the new court surfaced and lined out and then see what the use is,” one council member said during the discussion.

Councilmembers expressed a mix of sympathy for neighbors and reluctance to act before alternatives are available. One councilmember said removing the lines now would likely require city funds to strip the markings and preferred to postpone any removal until the Garrett Park work — slated to start May 18 — is completed and usage patterns can be evaluated.

The council instructed staff to continue monitoring the situation and scheduled further discussion at the May 18 meeting. No ordinance or binding action to remove lines was passed at the April 27 meeting.